New (to me) 1985 GSL - SE - Steering question
11-09-09, 07:30 PM
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New (to me) 1985 GSL - SE - Steering question
Hi,
I’m a new owner of a 1985 GSL-SE. The Car was meticulously up kept by the previous owner since new. Basically every spring until two years ago the car was brought to the dealership and given a once over and anything that could be considered warn replaced.
The only issue that needs addressing is the steering. From reading through this forum I know these cars suffer from too much play in the steering. As I drove the car the 100 kms to my house I couldn’t help but notice that from 10 to 2 on the wheel it felt like an elastic band was holding the steering together. I don’t think it was a dead spot, just a mushy or rubbery spot (not sure how much sense that makes).
I have grabbed the idler arm and tugged on it but didn’t feel any play. The bushings looked good visually. I have not yet checked out the other front end parts such as tie rods, steering box, or pitman. My plan of attack to resolve this is:
1) give all of the front end components, tie rods, pitman arm and idler arm and their bushings a once over. My question here is will I actually be able to feel the play if any of these are going bad by grabbing these items and pushing/pulling on them? Or is there a better way to test this?
2) If everything seems okay after step one, it means my steering box is wonky. I will try to adjust as I have read on this forum.
3) if the adjustment of steering box does not work, my options are a new steering box from Mazdatrix or a rack and pinion conversion from Re-speed. If I get to this stage how do these two options compare? The difference in price is only a $300 - $400 dollars so if the re-speed option is that much better I have no problem going that route. Opinions?
I would appreciate any comments or tips on the above plan of attack.
P.S. the car is manual steering.
Thanks in advance.
Tim
I’m a new owner of a 1985 GSL-SE. The Car was meticulously up kept by the previous owner since new. Basically every spring until two years ago the car was brought to the dealership and given a once over and anything that could be considered warn replaced.
The only issue that needs addressing is the steering. From reading through this forum I know these cars suffer from too much play in the steering. As I drove the car the 100 kms to my house I couldn’t help but notice that from 10 to 2 on the wheel it felt like an elastic band was holding the steering together. I don’t think it was a dead spot, just a mushy or rubbery spot (not sure how much sense that makes).
I have grabbed the idler arm and tugged on it but didn’t feel any play. The bushings looked good visually. I have not yet checked out the other front end parts such as tie rods, steering box, or pitman. My plan of attack to resolve this is:
1) give all of the front end components, tie rods, pitman arm and idler arm and their bushings a once over. My question here is will I actually be able to feel the play if any of these are going bad by grabbing these items and pushing/pulling on them? Or is there a better way to test this?
2) If everything seems okay after step one, it means my steering box is wonky. I will try to adjust as I have read on this forum.
3) if the adjustment of steering box does not work, my options are a new steering box from Mazdatrix or a rack and pinion conversion from Re-speed. If I get to this stage how do these two options compare? The difference in price is only a $300 - $400 dollars so if the re-speed option is that much better I have no problem going that route. Opinions?
I would appreciate any comments or tips on the above plan of attack.
P.S. the car is manual steering.
Thanks in advance.
Tim
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